An off-duty naval officer with HMCS Toronto whose body was found Thursday in his hotel room during a port visit in the Seychelles died of asphyxiation, officials say.

Navy Lt. Andrew F. Webster, who was based out of CFB Halifax, was on shore leave when he was found dead at 12:15 p.m. in Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles, a 115-island country in the Indian Ocean.

Investigators have determined the cause of death, but the circumstances are still unknown.

"I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to Lt. Webster's family, friends and colleagues," Defence Minister Rob Nicholson said in a statement. "The loss of any member of the Canadian Armed Forces is tragic and affects each and every one of us on the defence team."